I don't know one half miler that you could say is flourishing because of the passing lane although I don't mind it. On the mile though,I feel drivers tend to sit and hope for the best. I've won as much as I lost with the passing lane but it takes a away from middle race movement for certain.

Check out the handles on 1/2 mile tracks - May, YR, Nfld - and compare them to Mea, Pcd...

Yes, I believe that if they did not have passing lanes on the 1/2, it would be that much more chalky. I don't see where it takes away from movement on the 1/2, outside of YR which has this huge stretch, longer than any(?) 5/8's.

And even with the passing lane, the place to be is still up top with a one length head start.

'Courtesy' on the track is what Gural is fighting. It is the 'courtesy tuck' that ruined racing at the Meadowlands. Things have improved dramatically since Gural read the drivers the riot act on that courtesy.

Now its time to do the same to drivers who purposely get off the rail to let a horse through.

This courtesy is not a bad thing. The front runner is presumed dead so that's not a factor & it allows a driver who drove properly (2 hole) an opportunity to reap the reward. The courtesy tuck (a regular thing here at PPK) is a different story. That involves a driver who may not have enough horse to get the top, a chance for a freebie, a slower pace & a completely different race.

I dont think there was anything more frustrating than having a horse loaded with pace/trot in the pocket with nowhere to go. That was an occurance at Roosevelt and Yonkers many times each night (especially with a hubrail). IMO, if you ask a driver where they would want to be if given a choice, they would WANT to be in the pocket, so if they are good enough to get there, why should they be penalized by being boxed to death in the stretch?I think the passing lane gives more horses a chance, opens things up for some big prices many times. As a poster said earlier, I would take a passing lane all day, over what drivers do at the Meadowlands, where they drift and allow horses to come up the inside. Thats a "courtesy" I dont like seeing, and it happens often.

There are very few benefits to a passing lane, except allowing drivers to be unaggressive. It was simply a dumb idea. Strategy has gone out the window.

How it has lasted this long boggles the mind. It should be abolished ASAP. It makes very little sense and continues to reward the bettors with boring race after boring race. It has eliminated all thinking and strategy

Harness racings dumbest idea in a very long time. Eliminate it and it will bring life back into the game on smaller tracks, which are now impossible to watch

There are very few benefits to a passing lane, except allowing drivers to be unaggressive. It was simply a dumb idea. Strategy has gone out the window.

How it has lasted this long boggles the mind. It should be abolished ASAP. It makes very little sense and continues to reward the bettors with boring race after boring race. It has eliminated all thinking and strategy

Harness racings dumbest idea in a very long time. Eliminate it and it will bring life back into the game on smaller tracks, which are now impossible to watch

Disagree 100 percent... Great idea helps bettors tremendously... Less conveniant built in excuse for drivers as well...

Check out the handles on 1/2 mile tracks - May, YR, Nfld - and compare them to Mea, Pcd...

Yes, I believe that if they did not have passing lanes on the 1/2, it would be that much more chalky. I don't see where it takes away from movement on the 1/2, outside of YR which has this huge stretch, longer than any(?) 5/8's.

And even with the passing lane, the place to be is still up top with a one length head start.

absolutely right Dolfan.Thay fans really speak with their wagering dollars.

There are very few benefits to a passing lane, except allowing drivers to be unaggressive. It was simply a dumb idea. Strategy has gone out the window.

How it has lasted this long boggles the mind. It should be abolished ASAP. It makes very little sense and continues to reward the bettors with boring race after boring race. It has eliminated all thinking and strategy

Harness racings dumbest idea in a very long time. Eliminate it and it will bring life back into the game on smaller tracks, which are now impossible to watch

Unless you catch the one day every decade where the closers win, Delaware is the only 1/2 mile track I've seen in the last few years with no passing lane. Speed & post position are totally dominant as is chalk. Pocket horse often stays locked in until too late.

That's better racing to you?

Folks, putting aside all the *** & moaning, Maywood actually has the best 1/2 mile track racing. There is less of a handicap for outside draws & closers due to 3 big things: The roving, early untimed start, the angled gate & the passing lane. Every 1/2 mile track should have these features.

If it's such a great idea why doesn't the "mecca" of harness racing have it?

No passing lanes at any of Gural`s tracks.

I agree with him... Do away with them and get back to racing horses.. If you have the favorite, or any other horse, loaded with pace and locked in, you should have pulled when you could...My horses have probably win more races because of it but I still hate it..

I agree with him... Do away with them and get back to racing horses.. If you have the favorite, or any other horse, loaded with pace and locked in, you should have pulled when you could...My horses have probably win more races because of it but I still hate it..

I agree with him... Do away with them and get back to racing horses.. If you have the favorite, or any other horse, loaded with pace and locked in, you should have pulled when you could...My horses have probably win more races because of it but I still hate it..

The. Open stretch was invented on a napkin 17. Years ago by dr.richard herbert and Ira smolin..I took the idea to maywood. I AM IN LAS VEGAS RIGHT NOW WITH DOCTER HERBRT WORKING ON OUR LATEST DEAL. IT WILL BE OUT IN MARCH. . Bal. And maywood got the open stretchfor free for letting us put it in first.

To me, the passing lane minimizes chalk to an extent. It gives more horses a shot.Whether I win or lose up the passing lane I won't complain about it.Actually, if someone said to me I can quit work and do racetrack doubleheaders every day, I would do that the rest of my life....the game isn't perfect....but when I am driving to a racetrack, I am singing in the car I am so happy....

The. Open stretch was invented on a napkin 17. Years ago by dr.richard herbert and Ira smolin..I took the idea to maywood. I AM IN LAS VEGAS RIGHT NOW WITH DOCTER HERBRT WORKING ON OUR LATEST DEAL. IT WILL BE OUT IN MARCH. . Bal. And maywood got the open stretchfor free for letting us put it in first.

Ira, many of us love the passing lane so much, possibly you can discuss implementation of a double passing lane at every North American track.